EcoChallenge.org

Drawdown EcoChallenge

April 3 - April 24, 2019

Julia Lazzara

Seton Hall University

"It is our collective and individual responsibility to preserve and tend to the world in which we all live."

POINTS TOTAL

0 TODAY
0 THIS WEEK
936 TOTAL

participant impact

UP TO

19

meatless or vegan meals

consumed
UP TO

570

minutes

spent exercising
UP TO

555

minutes

spent learning
UP TO

36

plastic containers

not sent to the landfill

Julia's actions

Food

Explore Other Food Solutions

All Food Solutions

I will spend at least 15 minutes researching other Drawdown Food Solutions.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Electricity Generation

Learn More About Geothermal Energy

#18 Geothermal

I will spend at least 20 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of geothermal energy and consider investing in this technology.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Plan to Insulate

#31 Insulation

I will find out how to make my home more energy efficient through better insulation and weatherization.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Transport

Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

#66 High-Speed Rail

I will spend at least 20 minutes researching and advocating for a comprehensive high speed rail network in my country/region.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Silvopasture

#9 Silvopasture

I will spend at least 20 minutes watching videos and/or reading about the environmental benefits of silvopasture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will spend at least 25 minutes learning how to differentiate between sell by, use by, and best by dates.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Learn about the Need for Family Planning

#7 Family Planning

I will spend at least 25 minutes learning more about the need for family planning globally.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Materials

Eliminate Toxic Plastics

#47 Bioplastic

I will avoid buying toxic plastics, including polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyvinyl and instead replace them with bioplastic or durable options.

COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Electricity Generation

Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

#29 Wave and Tidal

I will spend at least 40 minutes learning more about the energy generation potential of wave and tidal energy.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Food

Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

#11 Regenerative Agriculture

I will spend at least 45 minutes learning about the need for more regenerative agriculture.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Women and Girls

Support Women-Owned Businesses

#62 Women Smallholders

I will spend 20 minutes each day researching women-owned businesses I can support when shopping.

COMPLETED 18
DAILY ACTIONS

Transport

Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

#26 Electric Vehicles

I will spend at least 30 minutes researching and weighing my options to see if a hybrid or electric vehicle makes sense for my lifestyle.

COMPLETED
ONE-TIME ACTION

Buildings and Cities

Go for a Daily Walk

#54 Walkable Cities

I will take a walk for 30 minutes each day and take note of the infrastructure that makes walking more or less enjoyable, accessible, and possible.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Smaller Portions

#3 Reduced Food Waste

I will use smaller plates and/or serve smaller portions when dishing out food.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Food

Reduce Animal Products

#4 Plant-Rich Diet

I will enjoy 1 meatless or vegan meal(s) each day of the challenge.

COMPLETED 19
DAILY ACTIONS

Participant Feed

Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.

To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?

Julia Lazzara 4/24/2019 12:15 PM

I can't believe that it is the final day of the Drawdown EcoChallenge! I have learned so much and I cannot wait to continue these practices outside of the challenge, as well as to share my new knowledge with friends and family!

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls Support Women-Owned Businesses

Globally, women typically invest a higher proportion of their earnings in their families and communities than men. How can you better support communities by supporting women? Can you share any past experiences that may help others take action?

Julia Lazzara 4/24/2019 11:07 AM

One way to better support communities by supporting women is to stand up and be a voice for women globally and within your community by inspiring others to use their business as a platform to empower all women. Another idea could be to gather people together to mentor the next generation of women entrepreneurs so that we can take action together. We can also create different internship programs that provides learning opportunities for women and other minorities, thus empowering them to join the workforce and take charge.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport Research and Advocate for High-Speed Rail

What are the factors that influence your choice of transportation? These can include things like money, time, and convenience, as well as perceptions of danger or safety. What would need to change for you to regularly choose more climate-friendly options?

Julia Lazzara 4/24/2019 9:29 AM

Many factors influence my choice of transportation, such as money, time, convenience, and perceptions of danger or safety. However, the most influential of all those factors listed are time and perceptions of danger or safety. Depending on how far away I need to go and how much time I have available to commute somewhere influences whether I drive, carpool, or take public transportation. Similarly, depending on how safe the area is determines whether or not I feel comfortable enough to walk. For me to choose more climate-friendly options, places I need to go would need to be within a closer proximity- everything nowadays is so far away that many options that would be more climate-friendly are extremely inconvenient to people.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Women and Girls Learn about the Need for Family Planning

What did you learn about the need for family planning? Share some of the learning with your friends!

Julia Lazzara 4/24/2019 9:03 AM

I learned that the need for family planning reinforces people's rights to determine the number and spacing of their children. There is a need for family planning because people need to become aware of the options available to stabilize the population. Family planning will help stabilize our rapidly growth human population growth- a number that the Earth itself cannot support. Thus, there is a great need for family planning.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Learn More about Silvopasture

Had you heard of the term "silvopasture" before now? After learning more about it, what do you think is the biggest advantage of silvopasture?

Julia Lazzara 4/14/2019 9:53 AM

No, previously I did not hear of the term "silvopasture." After researching the benefits of silvopasture, I cannot narrow the answer down to one BIG advantage because silvopasture has several advantages over timber and pasture alone. Not only is there a great return on investment, but there are livestock and wildlife benefits.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Transport Research and Consider Switching to a Hybrid or Electric Vehicle

Reducing (or eliminating) exhaust emissions and improving public health are two benefits of green vehicles. What other motivators inspire you to consider switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle?

Julia Lazzara 4/10/2019 9:19 AM

Besides the great benefits of reducing exhaust emissions and improving public health, other motivators that inspire me to consider switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle is saving money (which is an attractive feature to many people). Through the use of these cars, we are also reducing our dependency on fossil fuels.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Learn More about Regenerative Agriculture

Clean air, clean water and healthy food are three reasons to care about regenerative agriculture. What are some other reasons?

Julia Lazzara 4/10/2019 9:12 AM

Some other reasons to care about regenerative agriculture are that it can help reverse climate change by rebuilding the soil's organic matter and restoring the degraded biodiversity of our environment. It also promotes optimal nutrition and health, as well as enhances ecosystem services.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Electricity Generation Learn More about Wave and Tidal Energy

What did you learn about wave and tidal energy? Were you surprised by the information you found?

Julia Lazzara 4/10/2019 9:08 AM

Before my research, I was completely unaware as to what wave and tidal energy was. Now, I understand that it is a form of hydropower which converts the energy obtained from tides and waves as a useful substitute of power, specifically electricity. I was surprised that this is not widely used yet because it has great potential for the future electric generation.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Reduce Animal Products

In your opinion, what contributes to people in North America eating more meat than any other countries? What does this say about North American values and ways of living?

Julia Lazzara 4/10/2019 9:05 AM

I believe that people in North America eat more meat than any other country because not only has our population increased greatly, but another key factor is rising incomes. People have been able to afford to eat meat now; therefore, consumption has risen. Our ways of living insinuate that we are not aware how much meat we are actually consuming-- if we truly understood the impact of a carnivorous diet on health, animal welfare, and the environment we would begin to change our ways.

Read More
REFLECTION QUESTION
Food Learn the Truth About Expiration Dates

How does knowing the difference between use by, sell by, and best by dates empower you to make better decisions?

Julia Lazzara 4/07/2019 8:34 PM

With this new knowledge and insight into the differences between these phrases, I can make better decisions because I will be less likely to waste and throw out food that could have been put to good use. Less waste is always beneficial!

Read More